Considered a single stock: A group of individuals in a species occupying a well defined spatial range independent of other stocks of the same species. It can be affected by random dispersal movements and directed migrations due to seasonal or reproductive activity.

Spatial Scale: Spatial scale contains a standard term such as Global, Regional (e.g. for the whole Atlantic), sub-regional (e.g. for a part of the Atlantic), national, local (for sub-national levels).

Considered a management unit: An aquatic resource or fishery is
declared as [Fishery] Management Unit if it is
effectively the focus for the application of selected
management methods and measures, within the broader
framework of a management system. According to the FAO
Glossary for Responsible Fishing, "a Fishery Management
Unit (FMU) is a fishery or a portion of a fishery
identified in a Fishery Management Plan (FMP) relevant
to the FMP's management objectives." FMU's may be
organised around fisheries biological, geographic,
economic, technical, social or ecological dimensions ,
and the makeup and attribute of a fishery management
unit depends mainly on the FMP's management
objectives.

Table 9.4.11.1. Blue ling landings by management unit. Source: ICES estimates. Note: no information for Areas Va and XIV prior to 1973 and no information on other areas prior to 1988.

Year

Va&XIV

Vb, VI, VII

other areas

Total

1966

n/a

1311

n/a

1311

1967

n/a

1609

n/a

1609

1968

n/a

3010

n/a

3010

1969

n/a

1431

n/a

1431

1970

n/a

3648

n/a

3648

1971

n/a

2260

n/a

2260

1972

n/a

4982

n/a

4982

1973

2427

25402

n/a

27829

1974

2592

20949

n/a

23541

1975

2754

14576

n/a

17330

1976

2137

19846

n/a

21983

1977

2806

18201

n/a

21007

1978

2368

13280

n/a

15648

1979

3228

10778

n/a

14006

1980

9145

22770

n/a

31915

1981

9607

13309

n/a

22916

1982

8179

10970

n/a

19149

1983

7335

11491

n/a

18826

1984

4043

15504

n/a

19547

1985

1788

19256

n/a

21044

1986

2211

21018

n/a

23229

1987

1969

17430

n/a

19399

1988

2409

18811

4185

25405

1989

2600

14700

2610

19910

1990

3097

11195

1939

16231

1991

1979

10281

3274

15534

1992

2990

11399

2602

16991

1993

5958

8307

4793

19058

1994

2305

5953

1613

9871

1995

1833

7332

1440

10605

1996

1337

8530

1257

11124

1997

1348

10159

1000

12507

1998

1210

10588

1009

12807

1999

2093

12404

1915

16412

2000

2167

11049

988

14204

2001

1040

11653

1162

13855

2002

1405

8272

1806

11483

2003

2104

7420

1337

10861

2004

1386

6165

920

8471

2005

1604

5627

968

8199

2006

1862

5549

404

7815

2007*

2102

5203

326

7631

Projection

Figure 9.4.11.1.Blue ling landings by management unit. Source: ICES estimates. Note: no information for Areas Va and XIV prior to 1973 and no information on other areas prior to 1988. Yield and spawning stock biomass per recruit.

Management

Management unit: Yes

Management Objectives

There is insufficient scientific information to establish the extent of putative stocks; however, blue ling may be sufficiently isolated at separate fishing grounds to be considered as individual management units. On this basis advice is presented for the following management units:

Subdivisions Va and XIV (Iceland and Reykjanes ridge);

Subdivisions Vb,VI, and VII (Faroes Rockall and Celtic shelf); and

Subdivisions I, II, IIIa, IVa, VIII, IX, and XII. The latter grouping is a combination of isolated fishing grounds and these areas are grouped due to lack of data.

Available information indicates that stocks are stable at low levels in all areas. Total landings are presented in Table 9.4.11.1 and Figure 9.4.11.1.

Blue ling is a gadoid species that grows much faster than most deep-water species. It is particularly vulnerable to exploitation because fisheries can target the spawning aggregations. ICES has issued an answer to a request by NEAFC on spawning areas for blue ling in Section 9.3.2.7.